Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt renews support for Somalia’s stability at African Union meeting
Egypt has renewed its steadfast support for Somalia’s unity and stability, underscoring its commitment to regional security during a high-level African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council ministerial session focused on Somalia.
During the virtual meeting, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, reiterated Cairo’s backing of Somalia's ongoing efforts to restore stability and strengthen governance and state institutions across the country.
The session addressed recent developments in Somalia and focused on the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the new African Union Support Mission to Somalia (AUSSOM).
Dr. Abdel Aaty praised the Somali government’s efforts in reinforcing security and emphasized Egypt's solidarity with the Somali people, highlighting Egyptian support for enhancing the capacities of national institutions and the gradual handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces.
The Egyptian minister also expressed deep concern over the persistent threats posed by terrorist groups—particularly Al-Shabaab—and stressed the critical need for a smooth, coordinated transition between the AU missions. “It is essential to preserve security gains and prevent any vacuum that could be exploited by extremist groups,” Dr. Abdel Aaty said.
He went on to highlight the importance of sustained and predictable funding for AUSSOM, warning that inadequate financial support could undermine the mission and negatively impact not just Somalia but the broader Horn of Africa and the international community, including global maritime trade and efforts against terrorism.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Abdel Aaty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia bilaterally and through multilateral efforts, including capacity-building programs, training initiatives, support for both security and civilian institutions, and humanitarian assistance.